Fluid operated press and control therefor



Dec. 26, 1950 G. COURI FLUID OPERATED PRESS AND CONTROL THEREFOR Filed Aug. 29, 1946 INVENTOR.

GEOQGE COC/Q/ BY j 6 M Arroe/vsy Patented Dec. 26, 1950 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE FLUID OPERATED PRESS AND CONTROL THEREFOR 1 Claim. 1

My invention relates to an improvement in air presses, for example laundry air presses, and has for one of its objects to provide electric controls and a master air valve for air presses, whereby the construction and operation of such machines are greatly simplified.

A further object of my invention is to pro ide an air press, such as a laundry air press for example, wherein the press is more efiicient to operate and maintain as compared with conventional machines, and quicker in opening and closing and safer and more economical to operate.

In the accompanying drawing,

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevational view of a master air valve embodying my invention; and

Fig. 2 is a wiring diagram of the controls therefor.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 2 dengnates the body of the master air valve. This body is provided with air supply port 4, always connected to air feed l ne 6, suppied with air under pressure from any suitable source.

The air supply port or air intake port 4 opens into a chamber 8, which is formed in the upper part of the valve body. For c arity of descri tion this chamber will be referred to as an air pressure chamber.

i The valve body is provided also with another chamber, designated I 0. and which will be referred to as air exhaust chamber, t is chamber being provided with ex aust port I2, to which is attached exhaust manifold I4. 5

The chambers 8 and I!) are separated by a partition or wall It, whi h is b red a ially. as shown at It. for t e ception of rod 20 which is a loose fit in the bore l 8.

The partition or wall i6 i further provided with a port 22, to which is connected ose line or pipe 24, permanently conneced to the cylinder 26 for air-operated piston 28. This air-operated piston may be the air piston of a laundry machine for example, but it is to be understood. of course, that this invention is not to be limited to laundry machines.

The rod 20 above referred to carries exhaust valve 3!] for controlling port 32 at the lower side of wall or partition I5, and a stop disc 34. The rod terminates at its inner end within th air pressure chamber 8, while its other end projects through sealing cap 36, which is screwed into the lower end of the valve body 2. The sealing cap also provides a bearing for the rod 20.

Loosely mounted upon the upper end of the rod 23 is spring-loaded air-supply valve 33, controlling port 40. The spring for this valve is designated 42, and it is mounted upon the valve stem 44. This stem extends upwardly into sealing cap 46, screwed into the upper end of the valve body 2. 7

It will be apparent from all of the foregoing that, to actuate the piston 28 of the air press, it is merely necessary to raise the rod 20 sufficiently to close exhaust valve 30 and open air-supp y valve 38. Air under pressure can then flow from the supply line 6, port 40, bore l8, port 22. line 24 to cylinder 26 beneath the piston. Upon movement of the rod 20 in the opposite direction, valve 38 will close under action of its spring 42, valve 30 will open, and cyinder 'i will then exhaust by way of port 22, bore I8, ports 32 and I2.

Actuation of rod 20 and hence of the valves 30 and 33 is effected electrically in accordance with my invention.

Referring now to the wiring diagram of Fig. 2 as well as to the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1:

As hereinbefore pointed out, the rod 20, to which valve 30 is secured, and which rod also unseats air-supply valve 5'8. projects through the lower end of the valve body 2, Th projecting end of this rod, which I shall designate 48, is adapted to be engaged by an act' ating arm 50. This arm is pivotally attached at one end to a pin 52, mounted in a fixed block 54. Adjacent the opposite end of the arm I provide an adjustable stop 56 for adjusting the throw of the arm in a direction to limit movement of rod 22 outwardly of the valve body. This end of the actuating arm 50, the outer end, carries the core 58 of a solenoid, the winding for which is designated 60. The fulcrum for the inner end of arm 5!) is unstable which can be depressed in block 54 against the tension of its spring. This eliminates the precise setting of the valves and the throw of solenoid core 58, the unstable fulcrum of :arm 56 permitting of slight movement of the solenoid core after the exhaust valve strikes its seat, to ensure full seating of the valve as well as full stroke of the solenoid plunger.

62 and 64 designate a pair of push button switches, which must be closed to initia e operation of the press. 65 designates another push button switch, which for clarity will be referred to as a release switch.

69 is a switch one element of which is attached to the press in such position that, the operators hands must be upon the switches 62 and 64 when the press is closing, and closure of the press can not be continued upon removal of the operators hands from 62 and 64 unless the press has closed sufficiently to close switch 69.

ll! designates a holding relay.

In operation, and assuming that the parts are all in the position shown on the drawings:

The operator closes push button switches 62 and 64 (release switch 66 is initially closed). A circuit is now closed for the solenoid winding 60, which may be traced as follows: From one side of the line, conductor 68, release switch 56, control switches 64 and 62, conductors i2, '14, I8, solenoid winding 60, and conductor 76 to the other side of the line. At the same time, a circuit is closed to the coil of holding relay 70. This circuit may be traced from conductor '14, one contact 80 of the relay, then through the coil and by way of conductor 82 to conductor 16.

The solenoid winding 60 now being energized, its core 58 will be actuated to raise the arm 50, thereby to actuate rod 2a to close the exhaust valve 30 and open air-supply valve 38. Air under pressure, therefore, may now ilow to the cylinder 26 beneath piston 28 to actuate or raise the same to close the press. When the press is nearly closed, the switch 69, the movable- CQntaQt of which. is carried by the press, will close. With the holding relay 16 and safety switch 651 closed, the buttons 62 and s4 may be released, and the press will remain closed. At this instant, the, cir- Quit fer the solenoid windin 60. be traced a follows: From one side of the line, conductor 68, release switch 66, conductor 86,, switchfifl, holding relay contactsconductor 1S, solenoidwinding 60, conductor 16 to the other side of the line. The holding relay circuit at this time may be traced as follows: Conductor 84, holding relay coil, conductors 82 and 76.

A condition now exists where the starting switches 62 and 64 are opened, but release switch 66 and safety switch 69 are closed, so that the circuits to the holding relay and winding 60 of the solenoid are closed, and the press will remain closed as long as desired.

To. open the press, it is merely necessary to open switch 66 momentarily, which will openthe circuits of the holding relay and the solenoid, so that lifting arm 50 will be pivoted by itsspring to its initial position, allowing rod 20 to move outwardly of the valve body 2. This will close the air-supply valve 38 and open the exhaust valve 30, so that the pressure in cylinder 26 will be lowered, permitting the piston 28 to be-restored to the position shown in the drawings, to open the press.

It will be understood that, upon release of switch 68, it will immediately close, so that upon subsequent operation of the press the same cycle of operations is gone through as above described.

It will be seen from all of the foregoing that my construction is extremely simple and yet reliable in operation. That no effort is required of the operator other than operation of the two push button switches 62 and 64 to close the'press and of push button switch 66 to open the press.

It will be appreciated also that the number of valves, air lines, etc. has been reduced to a minimum.

It is to be understood that the details of construction and arrangement of parts hereinabove described and illustrated in the drawings may be varied within the purview of my invention.

What- I claim is:

In a fluid operated press, the combination of a supply valve and an exhaust valve for controlling the application of power to the press, .a solenoid having a core for controlling the operation, of said valves, a rod carrying saidv valves, an arm engaging said rod and having one end attached to the core of said solenoid, its other end being pivoted, whereby energization of said solenoid will effect movement of said rod and valves to seat the exhaust valve and open the, supply valve, the pivot for-the arm comprising a fixed member, a pin passing loosely therethrough and pivotally attached to the end ofthe arm and a spring on said pin between the fixed member and the end of the arm, thereby to permit the pivoted end, of the arm to yield upon seating of the exhaust valve and the solenoid core to complete its stroke.

GEORGE CCU-RI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of. record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,879,165 French Sept. 27, 1932 1,383,957 Koch et al Oct. 25, 1932 2,108,779 Schafer et al. Feb; 15, 1938 2,139,064 'Beattie Dec. 6, 1938 2,213,663 Berard Sept. 3', 1940 2,292,846 Pri'tchard Aug. 11', 1942 2,300,263 McLeod Oct. 27, 1942 2,341,689 Bryson Feb. 15 1944 2,369,243 Lechler Feb. 13, 1945 2,423,935 Hart July 15, 1947 

